Table 1 Basic characteristics of vegetarians and omnivores

Sex (Females, %)

74.3

85.4

82.2

82.2

Age (years)

37.2 ± 9.2

34.8 ± 8.3

35.4 ± 8.6

34.8 ± 9.4

Vegetarian diet duration (years)

5.4 ± 4.5

5.4 ± 5.2

5.4 ± 5.0

  < 3000

17.1

19.2

18.7^b

26.1

 3000 ~ 8000

67.2

68.2

67.9^b

65.3

  > 8000

15.7

12.6

13.4^b

8.6

 Primary or secondary

21.4

13.1

15.3^b

17.7

 Vocational

18.6

15.2

16.0^b

17.7

 College and above

60

71.7

68.7^b

64.6

 None or rarely

98.6

93.5^c

95.1^b

83.4

 Monthly or weekly

0

5.5^c

4.1^b

12.4

 Daily

1.4

1

0.8^b

4.2

Smoking (%)

14.3

8

9.7

8.2

BMI (kg/m²)

20.5 ± 2.4

21.1 ± 2.7

20.9 ± 2.6^b

22.4 ± 3.5

Physical activity (hours/week)

2.0 ± 2.9

1.8 ± 2.3

1.9 ± 2.5^b

1.4 ± 2.0

Skeletal muscle mass (kg)

22.7 ± 4.8

22.2 ± 3.8

22.3 ± 4.1

23.3 ± 4.8

Systolic pressure (mmHg)

108.6 ± 12.3

107.8 ± 12.8

108.0 ± 12.7

111.6 ± 15.4

Diastolic pressure (mmHg)

69.9 ± 9.4

69.8 ± 9.0

69.9 ± 9.1

70.4 ± 11.0

Fasting blood glucose (mmol/L)

4. 6 ± 0.4

4.7 ± 0.7

4.6 ± 0.62

4.8 ± 0.4

TGs (mmol/L)

1.0 ± 0.5

0.9 ± 0.5

1.0 ± 0.5

0.9 ± 0.5

TC (mmol/L)

4.0 ± 0.8

4.1 ± 0.8

4.1 ± 0.8^b

4.6 ± 0.8

LDL (mmol/L)

2.5 ± 0.6

2.6 ± 0.6

2.5 ± 0.6^b

2.9 ± 0.7

HDL (mmol/L)

1.3 ± 0.2

1.3 ± 0.3

1.3 ± 0.3

1.4 ± 0.3

LDL/HDL

2.2 ± 0.6

2.1 ± 0.6

2.1 ± 0.6^b

2.2 ± 0.7